The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Its core purpose is to help organizations improve their software engineering capabilities and develop or acquire the right software, defect free, within budget and on time, every time.

Carlin opened with a recent quote from 9/11 Commission. The commission noted, "We are at September 10th levels in terms of cyber preparedness…. One lesson of the 9/11 story is that, as a nation, Americans did not awaken to the gravity of the terrorist threat until it was too late. History may be repeating itself in the cyber realm." Carlin went on to discuss ways in which government, industry, and academia can work together to improve preparedness and combat cyber threats.

Carlin cited "Operation Bot Roast," the 2007 FBI operation aimed at operators of major botnets, as an example of the kind of cooperation needed. Operation Bot Roast involved the FBI's Cyber Fusion Center, which is located in Pittsburgh, the DOJ, the SEI's CERT Division, and private-sector companies. Their effort ultimately resulted in the prosecution of a number of criminals who controlled millions of compromised computers as part of an infrastructure for their various illegal enterprises.

Carlin also noted more recent collaborations in which the SEI's CERT Division joined forces with the Pittsburgh office of the FBI to identify the Gameover Zeus computer theft network that resulted in the indictment of five members of the Chinese military. "These charges against uniformed members of the Chinese military were the first of their kind," said Carlin. "Some said they [the charges] could not be brought. But this indictment alleges, with particularity, specific actions on specific days by specific actors to use their computers to steal valuable information from across our economy."

Carlin concluded his remarks by noting both the strides made over the past several years to counter cyber threats and the work that remains to be done. He reiterated his call for enhanced cooperation among federal agencies, law enforcement, private industry, academia, and citizens at large. "Together," he said, "we can ensure that, here in America's heartland and throughout this country, the hard work of Americans doesn't fall prey to cyber criminals."

"The SEI is pleased to have hosted this event," said SEI Director and CEO, Paul Nielsen. "Certainly, Assistant Attorney General Carlin's remarks touched on a number of important cybersecurity matters directly related to the work we do here. The opportunities we've had to collaborate with government, law enforcement, and the private sector against specific cyber threats give our folks firsthand experience countering real-world challenges. This experience, in turn, helps strengthen and focus their research and development efforts."